Chiles sent letters to House and Senate telecommunications committee chairmen, insisting on a host of changes to the bills.

With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, Chiles' demands could prove tough to meet, legislators concede. But House Majority Leader Jim Davis refused to label the rewrite dead because of the governor's objections.

"I wouldn't go that far," said Davis, a Tampa Democrat. "There's time to make changes. But they're controversial. And time is running out."

The telecommunications bills are among the most closely watched items of the legislative session, with billions of dollars at stake and about 130 lobbyists representing the communications giants involved.

But in the letters, Chiles and co-signer, Attorney General Bob Butterworth, say the measures being considered fail to provide enough consumer safeguards against rising rates and unfair competition.

Among the more volatile changes sought by Chiles is a tax initiative aimed at ending the exemption cable television companies have from the state's 2.5 percent gross receipts tax.

Utility firms pay this tax, which finances the state's building fund for public colleges and universities.

Chiles spokesman Ron Sachs said the governor is not looking to derail the legislation. But Sachs suggested Chiles would consider vetoing either bill in its current form if it was sent to him.

Both the House and Senate bills would deregulate local phone companies on Jan. 1 but hold basic residential and business rates at current levels for three years.

Customer monopolies held by such local firms as Southern Bell and Sprint/United Telephone would end. Cable TV firms and long-distance carriers then could compete with local phone giants for phone, video entertainment and information service consumers.

Supporters of the deregulation, mostly industry representatives, contend such competition would lead to lower customer phone rates.

But consumer advocates hailed Chiles' entry on Tuesday into the debate.

"There's no way consumers can swallow these bad bills," said Monte Belote, executive director of the Florida Consumer Action Network. "Our only hope is for the governor and attorney general to work this issue."